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Preamps w/HT BYPASS that works when preamp is OFF.

I have spent quite a bit of time researching this issue here and on other fora. I have been looking for a thread that lists the stereo preamplifiers that have home theater (or "cinema," as some manufacturers call it) bypass that works while the preamp is turned off. I think this list would be very helpful to those who have hybrid systems, which seems to be the majority of audiophiles.

I will start the list with those that I know operate this way, either through personal use or through research on the internet. Please feel free to add to the list, but please limit your contributions to the preamps that meet the criteria above. I will break down the list into two parts: Preamps that have XLR HT bypass input and preamps that have RCA HT bypass input only. Please indicate next to the model listed whether it is tube or solid state, fully-balanced or not.

PREAMPS WITH XLR HT BYPASS INPUTS:
Cary SLP-05 (tube, fully-balanced)
Cary SLP-2002 (tube, fully-balanced)
Modwright LS 36.5 (tube, fully-balanced)

PREAMPS WITH RCA HT BYPASS INPUTS:
Supratek Chenin (tube)
Supratek Chardonnay (tube)
Rogue Perseus (tube)
Gill Audio Alana (tube) [HT Bypass available by request]
Aesthetix Janus (tube, fully balanced)
Aesthetix Calypso (tube, fully balanced)

If you know through personal experience that any of this information is incorrect, please feel free to suggest corrections.
asindc
asindc OP
24 posts
 
Drjoe:

Some people turned off their equipment when not in use, so it seems pointless to have to turn the preamp on just to bypass it. I do understand why some choose to leave their preamps and amps on all the time, but I have a relatively small space that gets too hot to leave my equipment on. And as Bdgregory noted, there seems to be no benefit to leaving a SS preamp on.
bdgregory
1,580 posts
 
Don't most folks keep their pre on all the time,

Tube pre, yes. SS pre, no
well what I wrote is exactly the opposite of what I meant. I turn my tube preamp off, leave my ss preamp on.
asindc OP
24 posts
 
Bdgregory,

I understand your point, though I will point out that some don't want to leave tube preamps on because of tube life issues, while others do because they stay "warmed-up" that way.
ait
480 posts
 
"can't see how tube gear does it unless it is just a straight wire across the in to output...."

That's pretty much how Supratek does it. A wire from the HT inputs to the HT bypass toggle, to the output. The tube output goes to the other pole of the HT bypass toggle. Flick it one way = HT, the other = the tube output.
drjoe
130 posts
 
Sorry guys, I was thinking ss preamp but didn't say so.
I leave my ss pre on all the time. It is true, that leaving a tube pre on all the time is going to affect the tube life. I don't leave the power amp on all the time. My
electrical bill would go up significantly.
However my ss power amp sounds best after 2-3hrs warmup No trouble with HT bypass in my case as pre is on all the time.
drjoe
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